47th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties

Title: Demonstrating Why Refrigerant Choice Matters: The Impact of "Forever Chemicals" on the Environment and Related Policies

Description: The refrigerants we choose today shape the climate and health outcomes of tomorrow. This event illustrates the advantages of natural refrigerants and introduces the latest research on PFAS, their impacts on health, and the risks they pose to the environment. We present the latest scientific findings on PFAS, their persistence in the environment, look at examples from the Cool Up demonstration projects, and spotlight the forward-looking policy measures that simultaneously address refrigerant emissions and PFAS - offering a roadmap for integrated, future-proof solutions in the cooling sector.

Contact: Barbara Gschrey   

b.gschrey@oekorecherche.de

Title: Females for Future: An Interactive Side Event on the Challenges of Women in the Cooling Sector and on How to Overcome Them 

Description: Worldwide, over 12 million people are employed in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry, and the sector keeps growing. In many regions, there is a significant shortage of skilled labour. Despite this fact, women remain strongly underrepresented. According to data gathered by the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), the percentage of women who are members of national refrigeration and air conditioning organisations is only 6%.
 
In this interactive side event, we will explore the challenges that women face at different stages of their career path in the cooling sector. And how we can reduce these barriers. Participants are invited to bring in their own experiences and ideas. Furthermore, we will present data and recommendations for action from a new report and handbook by the Green Cooling Initiative (GCI).
 

Contact: Kerstin Kress  

kerstin.kress@giz.de

Title: Driving Impactful Emission Reductions: A Practical Guide to Establishing Sustainable Refrigerant Recovery as the First Step Towards Implementing Life Cycle Refrigerant Management

Description: 

Safe and efficient refrigerant recovery during equipment servicing, at end of life, or from stockpiles of older generation cylinders and equipment is an essential first step in LRM. The efforts required to scale up refrigerant recovery and the enablers which support this activity are well understood by A-Gas from our experiences in countries around the world. 

While the individual circumstances of each country are unique, by sharing our experiences through practical case study examples from several geographies we seek to provide useful insights to support a global improvement in recovery rates. 

Join our side event as we share our learnings and outline the innovative approaches applied to advance refrigerant recovery rates, lower emissions and improve environmental outcomes.

Contact: Elvira Nigido 

elvira.nigido@agas.com

Title: Driving Climate Action with PFAS-free Cooling and Heating: Innovation, Market Trends, and Policy Momentum

Description: This side event aims to highlight the critical importance of transitioning to PFAS-free alternatives in the heating and cooling sectors, showcasing market readiness, recent technological advancements, and the latest policy developments impacting the global move away from these "forever chemicals."

The global community is increasingly recognizing the pervasive environmental and health risks associated with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), including those used as refrigerants (HFOs) and their atmospheric degradation products like Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA). As the Montreal Protocol continues its vital work in protecting the ozone layer and mitigating climate change, addressing PFAS within the heating and cooling sector is becoming paramount. This side event will provide key stakeholders, policymakers, and industry representatives with essential data and insights to inform future decisions and accelerate the adoption of sustainable, PFAS-free solutions.

Contact: Cinzia Verzeletti 

cinzia.verzeletti@shecco.com

Title: Delivering Security to the Global Food and Pharmaceutical Supply Chain: Challenges and Opportunities in the F-Gas Transition for Transport Refrigeration

Description: The session will be an opportunity to delve into the peculiarities of the transport cold chain which could be affected by upcoming potential regulatory changes. In fact, the EU Commission and, at a later stage, EU member states’ authorities, will deal with the announced review of the refrigerated transport and mobile A/C related aspects of the EU F-Gas Regulation. The event will offer different perspectives from academia, Authorities, cold chain operators and equipment manufacturers and will look at the global implications and challenges posed by the different refrigerant options for the different product categories.

Contact: Valerio Forconi 

valerio.forconi@tranetechnologies.com

Title: Financial Feasibility and Innovative Incentives for a Cooler Future

Description: Unlocking sustainable cooling at scale requires more than just technology: it demands smart finance and enabling policies. This session showcases two cornerstone activities under Cool Up’s finance workstream that are driving market transformation across the MENAT region. We begin the session looking at the Cool Up Sustainable Finance Market Assessment, which evaluates the financial landscape for sustainable cooling in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Türkiye. The assessment identifies key barriers to investment, supports financial institutions in developing green lending products. Next, we spotlight Cool Up’s recently published Financial Feasibility Studies, tailored for end-users, developers, and financial institutions. These studies demonstrate the financial viability and practical application of transitioning to natural refrigerants in commercial refrigeration and cold storage systems.

Drawing on real-world case studies from the Cool Up partner countries, the session will unpack investment indicators, financing scenarios, and the tangible benefits of sustainable cooling. We will also examine policy recommendations, mechanisms and other innovative incentives that can accelerate adoption. An expert panel will discuss how these approaches can be tailored to local contexts to encourage consumer-friendly innovations and drive inclusive, climate-smart cooling transitions.

Contact: Eslam Mohamed Mahdy  

Eslam.mahdy@guidehouse.com